Instruments: The Hohner Dronique

Subject: Tech: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 03:27 PM

The Hohner Dronique is a diatonic melodica with the range of the venerable button Melodica Alto. It's name (pronounced drone-eek) comes from the innovative inclusion of five bass drone stops, the genius being that the drone reeds are supplied from a parallel wind-chest, thus the drones still sound, even when you're taking a breath. The keyboard, apart from being diatonic, is your standard melodica system - which is to say, you must blow each note, the lower ones being capable of limited bending.   Clever stuff all in all. The instrument is available in 4 distinctive green, blue, red and yellow tartan finishes which is printed directly onto the plastic case - and the keys too. Price - £57.

I might add that, as yet, The Hohner Dronique is only available from the music shop that featured in my dream last night - and you might imagine how I cursed when I woke up this morning. So - anyone out there from Hohner who could make my dream a reality? And, more to the point, anyone else ever dreamt of the ideal though otherwise non-existent instrument?

Subject: RE: Tech: The Hohner Dronique
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 11:25 PM

The parallel wind chest must have a compensator - like a pipe organ...

I just had to check what month this is, first....

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 04:30 AM

I didn't get to look inside it, alas, but it was no larger than the standard Melodica Alto, just without the buttons for the black notes, and keys for the white. Would a small wind-chest be able to supply enough wind to a reed whilst the player player pauses to take a breath? Maybe I'll start dismantling my old harmonium and conduct a few experiments...

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 07:41 PM

"Would a small wind-chest be able to supply enough wind to a reed whilst the player player pauses to take a breath?"

From practical and pragmatic experience - no - sorry!

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: Tootler
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 07:54 PM

Why would you want a diatonic melodica anyway?

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 07:59 PM

Because you can't play 'wrong' notes on a diatonic instrument - :-P

I studied Music Theory - I'm not making this up,you know!

:-)

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 05:56 AM

Blame my twisted subconscious. Personally, I'd love a diatonic melodica. Many folk / drone instruments are diatonic etc, so it makes a sort of sense...

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: Jack Campin
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 06:29 AM

You want this:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Music/MouthFlutina/

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:07 AM

can I have a Bass version please ...???

with an optional foot bellows attachment...????

something solid and metal about the size and weight of a Fender Volume Pedal....




..wish Bass Melodicas weren't so uncommon and expensive these days....

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:19 AM

You want this:

Bloody right I do!

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: terrier
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:29 AM

Isn't a mouth Flutina just the two ends of a single row melodeon joined together minus the bellows? Depending how you want to play it, accordion or melodeon reeded. Oh, and drill a hole in the end and fit a mouthpiece. Might just buy a cheapo single row off EBay and try to make one :)

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 07:40 AM

Hold on - does that mean you have to suck as well as blow? Hmmm - this is why I avoid Anglos, Melodeons and Moothies - and just think of the hygiene issues...

Although no worse than the time I was playing as part of an early music consort in an old church. One arrangement necessitated a switch from frame drum to alto recorder, into the windway of which had crawled an earwig which wriggled into my mouth as I held the instrument (an old Moeck Rennaissance with a wide brass ring) at my lips. Not pleasant, but I held my composure, having spat the offending wriggly into the nearby Romanesque font. Even now, I check my windways before putting them to my mouth.

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: terrier
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 10:04 AM

Yeeeeuuurrrrrgggggghh!!!

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 05:36 AM

Bass blow

Subject: RE: Instruments: The Hohner Dronique
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 23 Jun 11 - 05:42 AM

The dronique! I'd forgot about that. But that bass blow looks pretty neat. You can sometimes puck up old Hohner bass melodicas on Ebay but don't expect them to be in tune!